Rivers

‘Fubara Using Rivers Resources For Dev’

Published

8 months ago

July 5, 2024

The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr. Enyiada CookeyGam has said the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is using the State’s resources and funds to aggressively develop the people and the rural communities.
He noted that the emphasis is currently in areas where such development had eluded the people since the inception of democratic rule 25 years ago.
Speaking with newsmen in Port-Harcourt on the rumour that instead of using state funds and resources to develop the people, the Governor is using the resources to recruit hoodlums and bombers, the CTC boss said it is untrue and baseless.
CookeyGam, who debunked the rumour, said it was the opposite, and that the Governor was effectively utilising state resources to build roads in the rural areas abandoned by successive administrations to the detriment of the masses.
He explained that the Governor, apart from building roads and other infrastructural transformation in the state, also cleared huge debt of salaries and its arrears owed Rivers workers, retirees, and also promoted Civil Servants in the state.
He continued to say that the Governor has also been empowering Rivers youths, women, the less privileged in the state, among others, via skills acquisition programmes for them to be selfreliant in various fields of endeavour, noting also rhat over N4billion was released for disbursement.
“The truth is that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has never misused or tampered with state funds and material resources on meaningless jamboree. Rather, his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, used state resources and funds to donate to the northern and other states in his quest to become the running mate to the PDP Presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in order to woo the northerners and others for support, to become Vice President that failed to see the light of the day”, he said.
He stressed that the former Governor doled out a whopping sum of N500 million as part of his support to Sokoto state market inferno under the administration of Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal as Governor.
“Nyesom Wike was the one that had misused our resources to support other states, and deadly activities while Rivers people are dying of hunger, hardship, poverty and deaths.
“It is on record that for the past eight years, Rivers State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was at N12 billion, but as of today, the amount has drastically changed from N12 billion to over N28 billion, meaning that the dispensation rough-handled our resources and funds to stupor.
“As far as we are concerned, the people’s Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, remains the political hero and leader of Rivers State.
“We need Godly leaders like Siminalayi Fubara, who stands by his word in the morning, afternoon and night. God brought him to clean the development and political mess of the Nyesom Wike – led administration in the last eight years of dictatorial governance”, he stated.
Dr.CookeyGam, a grassroots mobiliser and political gladiator in the LGA, called on the Governor’s detractors, such as the factional leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, and other Abuja-based sponsors to “desist forthwith from negative and unfounded bias and rantings against the Governor”.
He warned Okocha to “concentrate on his representation of the people well on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), where he is expected to drag viable, people-oriented development projects and programmes for those he claimed to represent.
“Since Tony Okocha became member on the Board of the NDDC, he has not been able to attract tangible development projects and programmes to the state, talkless of scholarships, grants, and other empowerment largesse to both the students and youths”.
Dr. CookeyGam warned that any attempt to distract Governor Siminalayi Fubara in his quest to build bridges of “human-faced” development for the people will be revisited.
“Enough is enough of such irrelevant, irresponsible and unjustifiable rascality. When all Rivers people are expected to join forces to work with the present government to move the state forward developmentally, Tony Okocha and his Abuja connections are busy misleading their followers on make-belief destructive politics that would do nobody any good”, he concluded.

Bethel Toby

Rivers

Experts Urge Fubara On Youth Marine Safety Training

Published

5 days ago

February 19, 2025

The Tide

A Maritime Security Expert, Captain Ifeanyi Eke Lawrence, has called for the training of youths as marine Safety officers in order to improve and regulate safety among boat operators and passengers.

He said the programme, if carried out, will create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and drastically reduce the rate of death and loss of properties along the state’s water ways.

According to him, Rivers inland waterways can create over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs if properly harnessed.

Lawrence said the timely training of youths and positively engaging them as safety officers on all the jetties where waterborne transportation system is operated was necessary to solve the state’s unemployment challenge and end incessant boat mishap in the State.

The Expert, who is the Chairman, El-Bravo Maritime Safety Training Services Limited, said this in an interview with newsmen shortly after their monthly safety exercise in Port Harcourt.

He said the Government can do this through educating reasonable number of youths who will carry the responsibility of educating boat operators and regulate safety on all the jetties and state’s waterways, adding that the improvement in safety along the state’s waterways will restore the confidence of boat passengers and speed boat operators who operate along the state’s waterways.

According to him, the situation will check incessant boat mishaps which result to loss of lives and goods worth millions whenever there’s a boat accident, hence the need to save lives and property along the state’s inland waterways.

Captain Lawrence said Government can also achieve this feat through constant engagement and training of youths on Maritime safety in the state.

“Governor Fubara needs to critically tackle the dangerous threat of boat mishaps and unemployment rate among Rivers youths whose population is on the Increase

“Rivers State inland waterways have the capacity to create over 50,000 direct and indirect Jobs for the ciitizens if properly and professionally harnessed.

“This can be achieved through training and constant engagement and monitoring of the boat operators all over the State”, he said.

Lawrence continued that the state stands to benefit maximally from its God-given maritime potentials if properly harnessed.

“Rivers State with its enormous God-given natural resources, especially the amazing creeks, channels, rivers , lagoons and others, should be able to harness and tap from it to benefit the people.

“Rivers State is the second largest maritime environment in Nigeria after Lagos State, and has the largest fishing Community in West Africa at Oyorokorto, in Andoni LGA of the state.

“The community environment is a tourist site of international reputes that needs to be developed by the State Government.

“There are several tourist sites along the State’s waterways, but tourist are skeptical to visit them for their relaxation due to lack of state safety organs, to educate, regulate and enforce safety on boat drivers, passengers and everyone who does business on the state’s maritime environment.

“I’m calling on Governor Fubara to use his executive mandate and create a State civil maritime unit and sanitize all the jetties and the entire waterways.

“It’s necessary as 80 percent of Rivers people earn their living from the jetties, channels, rivers, creeks and lagoons that surround them.

“The major means of transportation in Rivers State is Waterborne transportation system, therefore it’s pertinent the State Government act as a matter of urgency, make hay while the sun shines”, he advised.

He also decried the incessant boat mishaps and loss of lives and property along waterways in the state.

John Bibor

Rivers

Association Boss Urges For Professionalism, Efficiency Among Memebers

Published

5 days ago

February 19, 2025

The Tide

The new National President of the “Noble Association of Nigeria”, Sir Emenike Nwokeoji, has called for professionalism and efficiency among members in carrying out their duties and relating to other agencies in course of their work.

Sir Nwokeoji, who was part of a Thanksgiving service organized by members of the Association of Nigeria Customs Licensed Agents (ANCLA), weekend, said this during the Service at the Christ Inter-Denominational Church, near Government House, Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the occasion, he said the past year (2024) has been full of challenges, but they have cause to thank God for His guidance and protection of their members in the course of the duties.

He however, urged members to always exhibit high degree of professionalism in carrying out their jobs and ready to co-operate with all the relevant agencies for efficiency.

“We work in synergy and amicably with other relevant agencies for effective result. We do not work in isolation”, in he said.

The service was organized to appreciate God for His grace and also to express happiness and gratitude over the emergence of Sir Nwokeoji as the National President of the Noble Association.

Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Association, Rivers State Chapter, Sir, Mike Egwuatu, expressed confidence on the ability of the new National President to pilot the affairs of the association to higher level.

According to him, Chief Nwokeoji is a loveable and friendly administrator who grew up within the system. He therefore urged the members to give him all necessary support for him to succeed in office.

Dignitaries from government circle, Heads of Churches, Academia, and Nigerian Customs Services attended the occasion.

Rivers

Redeem Your Financial Pledges, Oxfam Urges Nations

Published

5 days ago

February 19, 2025

The Tide

Oxfam, an international organisation, has called on nations to honour their financial commitments made during the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) convention on climate change.

The Oxfam Programme Manager for Accountable Governance in Nigeria, Mr Henry Ushe, made the call at a two-day workshop organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), with the support of Oxfam in Port Harcourt.

The Tide’s source recalls that some developed countries had pledged $100 billion annually to support the low and middle income countries in their climate action efforts.

Oxfam said the actual amount already delivered was low with much of the finance provided as loans which aggravating debt burdens in vulnerable countries.

Ushe, however, stated that Nigeria had developed the gas master plan following its commitment to COP27 to transit energy to net zero by 2060 and to the Paris agreement of accelerating climate action.

He explained that Nigeria had also passed the Climate Justice Act and established its secretariat to work with CSOs and other stakeholders to ensure the total implementation of the policy framework.

“But what we haven’t seen since then is the financial commitment to be able to drive through with all of this policy; what we need is the financing of all these plans”, he said.

He said that was why they were calling on those who made financial pledges at COP27 to redeem them, ‘’while we hold our government to account, ensuring that the support is used judiciously.

“We are very optimistic about the safe transition because the country has put in place all the mechanism that is needed, including a very robust gas master plan”.

In his remarks, the Head, Community, Environmental Legal Desk of Natural Justice in Nigeria, Mr. Lawrence Dube, urged the regulatory agencies to structure and enforce global energy security.

Dube, who spoke on the “Aligning Gas Plans with Climate Goals”, urged government to put the policy framework into use, bringing investors to the round table discussion for investment and partnership.

On hosoart, the Chairman, Civil Society National Regulation Council of Nigeria, Mr. Harry Udoh, decried the slow pace of the implementation of the plans since 2007 till date.

Udoh urged government to accelerate gas infrastructure development, invest in pipeline networks, processing plants and storage facilities to improve market access.

He recommended that there should be expansion of virtual gas pipelines like the CNG and LNG trucking system to reach under served areas.

He called for the strengthening of partnership within the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) to enhance regional energy security among others.

Earlier, the Programme Lead, Department of Tax Justice, Environment, and Conservation of Nature in CISLAC, Mr. Ayo Omowu, urged the country to implement the policy framework for the renewable energy and its sustainable development goals for 2060.